8-string Ortega Nylon String Acoustic Guitar | Review by Alexandra Zerner

[@Countachockula]

Ortega should sponsor a video with you and Javier playing together via video. ;-) Brilliant playing Alexandra.

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you so much, Jeff! Ortega followed me on Instagram so who knows what might happen :)

[@aeHyde]

the piezo sounds flawless. so many high end guitars sound artificial. this is a great deal for such a sweet sounding unit. and your playing is awesome as always.

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

That's true! I was nicely surprised by it, especially on the low end :)

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Bouree in E minor for lute. The first classical piece I ever learned. And Leyenda, one of the last classical pieces I learned. Wonderful. I really enjoyed this video. I always wanted a 10 string classical, but would love to have an extra high string. Too bad they haven't figured that one out yet (to my knowledge).

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you!!! I was experimenting with a high G string on some guitars and I find it very handy but with a 10-string guitar with a high string you should have a multi-scale.

[@swaroov9236]

You are so humble even though with the powerful talent you have

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

I don't see a reason why one shouldn't be humble :) I had the luck to speak to some world class musicians and they are the same :)

[@1337million]

That last low note of "Letter To Nowhere" demo gave me the chills! What a cool instrument!

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Glad to know that :) Yes, the guitar is just amazing!

[@Nyarmith]

Great playing. Well suited for bach. You sold me on the insturment!

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you! I am glad that my video was useful. It's a great instrument for sure!

[@MusicMindset]

That is a great guitar! Surprised by the balanced sound! Very cool!

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Very balanced sound indeed - a great investment, methinks :)

[@jfo3000]

Wow, really nice playing. I'll have to see if you have any nylon string material released. The low notes on this 8 string nylon sound amazing.

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you very much! My first released nylon string music is part of this EP: alexandrazerner.bandcamp.com/album/an-evening-walk-ep - it was recorded with Alhambra 5P. Most of the excerpts in this review are from my third album: alexandrazerner.bandcamp.com/album/opus-1880 which was recorded with a very budget Hohner classical guitar model that I had to sell afterwards.

[@gardengit]

Really great review…this 8 string is definitely worth a closer look…your compositions are fantastic, this opus 1880 sounds very interesting….looking forward now to listen on one of the links. It is fantastic that you compose for the nylonstring !! Best wishes from Austria

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you so much! I am glad to have a new fan in Austria :)

[@mannyfragoza9652]

i love the tones of the Acoustic and you play beautifully

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

I am happy to know that :)

[@guitaristjoshbailey]

Your tremolo picking was great. Bravo maestro.

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you so much!

[@IsaacLausell]

I have always tried to convince my electric guitar strident a to also study classical. Now having fine guitarists such as yourself also playing their classicals helps me to convince them of the idea. As you I am intrigued by the 8 string. I have an 8 course lute and while I always wanted a seven string classical the idea of an eight string seems very enticing to me.

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you! I also do my best to convince my students that playing classical guitar or acoustic guitar in general is a very valuable skill to have and it has enormous impact on playing the electric guitar. I didn't see it that way in the beginning of my journey though so I understand the student's perspective. That's why we need to trust our teachers - that's why we have them in the first place. I am jealous about the lute! I really craving for an archlute (and a few more instruments like a harpsichord, viola da gamba, harp, cetara, and recorders) because I am absolutely fascinated by renaissance music in general and I would like to do an acoustic album based in such music. Sadly, such instruments are quite expensive...

[@grottyallen7157]

Beautiful instrument and playing)

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you!

[@ivankornmusic]

Nice playing and timing 😊

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you!

[@jerryspitler7021]

thanks for sharing, love your playing

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

You're welcome! Glad you like it!

[@limaofarofa]

Don't know if this is of any help, but: aside from the official Ortega set, Savarez also makes some other extended range 6 string sets that are either for a longer scale (6CB640R for 75cm) or for a shorter scale (LOW640R for 65cm), alternatively there's the Magma Strings GCT-E Transpositor (also 6 string for 65cm). If you're going for something close to an electric 8 string guitar that is, there are other sets for traditional extended range classical guitars with closer intervals on the bass side from Hannabach and such.

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you very much for the info! Some of these are familiar to me - I will check out the rest.

[@ianfurqueron5850]

On the Ortega website, the strings are listed as "Ortega OCTA-8NS" and shown on their website as being available as a set. Made in Germany. .029, .032, .041, .031, .037, .046, .060, .083 string gauges. Part of me is intrigued by 8 string guitars... I want one more than a 7 string... but right now I can barely handle 6.

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

That's true that this is what's written on the website but when I unpacked the guitar, there was indeed a Savarez label... who knows... I guess I will try the Ortega set. It could be just the brand but the actual manufacturing to be done by Savarez - just guessing.

[@robmurrah3224]

Instead of having two lower strings, you can also do one lower string, one higher string: BEADGBEA. This is probably what I'll do if I get an 8 string classical.

[@thygod]

You'd probably want a shorter scale (or at least a multiscale with a shorter side) if you were going to go with a high A.

[@kennikuhlmann-clark9860]

LaBella sells single strings in the 75 to 85 gauge range. I had bought them for the two low strings of an Ibanez 8 string I got a few years ago. I had these tuned to G1 and B1. The scale length was only 25 1/2" on that guitar. The Ortega has a 27 1/8" I think.

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

The Ortega has quite a long scale - 690 mm, which is 27,17". It handles well dropping 8th string down to E if needed. I use the Ortega set available on Thomann, which is essentially Savarez but a custom set sold under the brand Ortega.

[@solo857]

Hi Alexandra, I baught the Ortega RCE159-8 string recently and after searching for some info on this guitar I found you on youtube and I absolutly love the review you make of this guitar. You also make an excellent presentation of some beautiful guitar pieces most I did not know. So it is also a musical discovery. I thank you very much for this excellent informative video. From Yvon Montreal, Canada

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Congrats on the purchase! I am glad that my video has been so useful and enjoyable to you :) I hope you will like my works!

[@leonardcanter4596]

Excellent Demo !! Must try an Ortega Nylon 8 Sting before purchasing another guitar, Only Nylon 6 string I have is a Camps FL-11c also play a Ibanez UV7, 7 String; both I love. The 8 string would expand my palette. Thank You !!!

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you! I am glad that it's been useful to you :)

[@Tsalagi56]

Wow. How lovely is that? And great job on the selections!

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you so much! I am glad that you like the excerpts :)

[@msnrc]

I bought an Ortega guitar once. It costed €400 but I had to give it back because the action on the 12th fret was like 1 cm and it was impossible to set it by neck curve.

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

That's strange... Was it possible to file the saddle in order to lower the action?

[@msnrc]

@@AlexandraZernerRocks Probably yes but I do not if it wouldn't be too low regarding fretwork. Anyway, I bought a very nice nylon string acoustic with cutaway from Ibanez :)

[@solarleech]

Thanks for making this video. Are tabs available for " the other side of the sky?

[@Katira-KR7]

Would you also consider playing a 9 String acoustic if it was available for an accessible cost?

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Yes, but it will have to be a multi-scale and to have a high string above E.

[@theblizzard32]

Surprised by the sound of this one considering the Cedar top. I thought the low B and F# would sound a little too warm/muffled to barely audible. But, it actually has a nice balance in tone between the bass and treble strings. For the price, this definitely seems like something for me to consider in the future. Only other option for me was those Agile 8-string acoustics(multi-scale 25.5-27 or standard 27)with solid spruce/mahogany. Wish those were still being produced. Great playing and solid review of this guitar. Will sub.

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you! I am not really a tonewood nerd so I didn't know what to expect exactly but I am indeed nicely surprised by the low end. Years ago I was also thinking about Agile but I don't feel like paying customs fee that would exceed the price of the guitar itself so I am looking only for things available in the EU.

[@BigJosephWarrior]

Beautiful! Just curious what MIC you are using in this recording, please?

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

Thank you! I use AKG Perception 200.

[@BigJosephWarrior]

@@AlexandraZernerRocks Thank you, dear!

[@TheKevinKitchen]

Excellent video. Thank you

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

I am glad that you like it so much :)

[@WhereTheBASShasNoName]

Tosin Abosi is the guitarist for Animals as Leaders. Well was

[@erartne]

Tks for your vid. How is the tuning for 8 strings guitar?

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

You're welcome! The tuning is F#BEADGBE like standard 8-string electric guitars. Sometimes I might drop the 8th string to E for a particular piece.

[@erartne]

@@AlexandraZernerRocks Thanks for your answer.

[@oggy016OZ]

How deep is neck? Is it slim neck? Can you tell me in milimeters please?

[@oggy016OZ]

Im interested because I want to buy the guitar, and slim neck is better for my left tumb etc..

[@AlexandraZernerRocks]

As far as I could measure it, it's around 20mm at the nut and around 23-24mm at 12-th fret.

[@leedurand7159]

HUE...